5. Molecular Cocktails

Edible cocktails from The Drop, a restaurant and bar in Kansas City, Mo.

Remember the exquisitely mixed manhattan, with its handmade bitters and small-batch spirits? That’s yesterday’s news. Today’s forward-thinking mixologist has a tank of liquid nitrogen on hand, the better to get on board with the growing movement toward so-called molecular cocktails. Once limited to a few avant-garde bars, the drinks are being served up by more places around the country and include bizarre infusions, smoked water or soda and fat-washing — the technique behind the famous bacon bourbon.